Numerous studies have demonstrated that the COVID-19 epidemic has significantly impacted college students' stress levels and emotional well-being. Furthermore, researchers worldwide have confirmed the positive effects of forest therapy programs on human physiology and psychology. However, there is limited understanding of the experiential aspects of combining forest therapy with the stimulation of the five senses. This study aimed to explore the impact of experiential forest therapy activities, incorporating the five senses, on the physiological and psychological well-being of college students. Additionally, the study compared the varying benefits basing on participants' gender and level of outdoor activity experience. The study included 48 university students(18 females and 30 males; aged 22-24) who participated in a one-day forest therapy program at the Nanping Campus, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian Province, China(N: 26°33′27.00"; E: 118°07′6.10"). The participants' physiological and psychological wellbeing were evaluated using dynamic electrocardiogram recordings, the Concise Mood Scale(BPOMS), and the Status-Trait Anxiety questionnaire(STAI-S). Following the forest therapy program, participants reported a significant decrease in negative emotions, with parasympathetic activity dominating heart rate variability among college students. Among the five senses experiences, gustation yielded the most significant overall health benefits, followed by visual experiences(Sparse forest), auditory experiences, and tactile experiences. However, the olfactory effect was relatively weak, while vision(Dense forest) had the opposite effect. Participants who engaged in over two outdoor experiences per month showed a higher likelihood of experiencing relaxation in their natural surroundings. Research findings indicate that the combination of sensory experiences and forest therapy activities induces physical and psychological relaxation effects among college students, with results varying based on sensory dominance, gender, and outdoor experience.